How do you test and debug cross-play and cross-save games effectively and efficiently?

1 Choose the right tools

The first step is to choose the right tools for developing and testing your cross-play and cross-save features. You will need a game engine that supports cross-platform development, such as Unity, Unreal, or Cocos2d. You will also need a cloud service that can handle data storage, synchronization, and authentication, such as Firebase, PlayFab, or GameSparks. Additionally, you will need some testing tools that can simulate different devices, platforms, and network conditions, such as TestFlight, Appium, or Charles Proxy.

2 Design a test plan

The next step is to design a test plan that covers all the scenarios and cases that you want to verify for your cross-play and cross-save features. You should consider the following aspects: compatibility, functionality, performance, security, and usability. For example, you should test how your game behaves when switching between devices, platforms, or accounts, when playing online or offline, when experiencing network latency or interruptions, when updating or restoring data, and when encountering errors or conflicts.

3 Implement automated tests

The third step is to implement automated tests that can run your test plan regularly and efficiently. Automated tests can save you time and resources, and can help you detect and fix bugs early. You can use tools such as Unity Test Runner, Unreal Automation Tool, or Cocos Test Studio to create and run automated tests for your game logic, UI, and network. You can also use tools such as Firebase Test Lab, PlayFab Cloud Script, or GameSparks Test Harness to create and run automated tests for your cloud service and data.

4 Perform manual tests

The fourth step is to perform manual tests that can complement your automated tests and provide more feedback and insights. Manual tests can help you check the quality and feel of your game, and can reveal issues that automated tests may miss. You can use tools such as TestFlight, Appium, or Charles Proxy to run manual tests on different devices, platforms, and network conditions. You can also use tools such as Firebase Console, PlayFab Game Manager, or GameSparks Portal to monitor and manage your cloud service and data.

5 Debug and fix issues

The fifth step is to debug and fix any issues that you find during your testing process. You can use tools such as Unity Debugger, Unreal Debugger, or Cocos Creator Debugger to debug your game code and UI. You can also use tools such as Firebase Crashlytics, PlayFab Diagnostics, or GameSparks Analytics to debug your cloud service and data. You should document and prioritize your issues, and use a version control system such as Git, SVN, or Mercurial to manage your code changes.

6 Collect and analyze feedback

The final step is to collect and analyze feedback from your users and testers. Feedback can help you improve your game and your cross-play and cross-save features, and can also help you identify and solve new issues. You can use tools such as Firebase Remote Config, PlayFab Experimentation, or GameSparks Segments to test different versions of your game and features with different groups of users. You can also use tools such as Firebase Analytics, PlayFab Insights, or GameSparks Events to track and measure the behavior and satisfaction of your users.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?